July 6, 2015 – Despite enjoying record profits last year of $1.1 billion, Southwest Airlines refuses to have meaningful negotiations with its Aircraft Maintenance Technician and Related union, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), prompting the union to request federal mediation from the National Mediation Board (NMB). Southwest Airlines and AMFA-represented Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, Ground Support Technicians, Plant Maintenance Technicians, Maintenance Controllers, and Technical Instructors have been in negotiations for close to three years.

“When we started these negotiations we anticipated that we would reach a tentative agreement and the negotiations would conclude in a reasonable timeframe, especially in light of the unprecedented profits being enjoyed by Southwest Airlines, which our members play a significant role in achieving. Unfortunately, this has not been the case,” Louie Key wrote to Southwest’s CEO, Gary Kelly, in a recent letter.

AMFA looks forward to working with the NMB and is hopeful that taking this step will induce much needed progress on an amended agreement for our members.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association was established in 1962 as a craft focused union that represents aircraft maintenance technician and related employees. AMFA currently represents these members at Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines. For more information about AMFA visit www.amfanational.org.